Bangalore-based start-up, Ather Energy has confirmed the launch of their S340 soon. Bookings for the Ather S340 electric scooter will commence in June and it will be sold only in Bengaluru, initially. According to company officials, launch details of the electric scooter in other cities will be announced by the end of 2018.
The Ather S340 was first unveiled in early 2016 and was supposed to be launched last year. According to Tarun Mehta, CEO and co-founder, Ather Energy, they underestimated the challenges involved in development and production of a new product. India’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, Hero MotoCorp, had invested Rs 205 crore in Ather Energy for a 26-30 percent stake in 2016.
The Ather S340 will come with an exhaustive list of features that include a waterproof touchscreen, waterproof battery, waterproof charger, parking assist, custom user interface, ‘push navigation’, charging location tracking, CBS, over-the-air updates, an under seat light and diagnostic alerts. The scooter also has been equipped with dynamic LED lights that respond to ambient light conditions.
The S340 is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. Ather claimed a top speed of 72kph and a range of up to 60km on a full charge; although this might be slightly different on the production scooter. It also claims that 80 per cent charge can be achieved in 50 minutes with fast-charging and that the battery can last up to 50,000km.
Ather is also working on a charging infrastructure in Bengaluru, but it hasn’t divulged any further details on how said infrastructure will work. The company has started installation of charging stations and it will also have provisions for fast charging. Its first customer experience centre will be located in Indiranagar, where buyers can test ride the electric scooter. Ather hasn’t revealed any information regarding the price of the S340 or the booking amount, as yet.
The Ather S340 will be manufactured in Whitefield, Bengaluru. The electric two-wheeler segment in India is still in its nascent stage and the Ather S340 will face competition from the Twenty Two Motors Flow, which was launched at the 2018 Auto Expo for Rs 74,740. TVS Motors is also working on an electric scooter and showcased the Creon concept at the 2018 Auto Expo.